Afraid of doing sth and afraid to do sth

[Vichet]

I oftens encounter the two phrases, but I never think of the differences between them. When someone asked me, I can't deal with them at all. Could you explain me the meaning of them?-Thank you for reading this message.

[Alan]

Both expressions refer to uncertainty/diffidence/fear or being frightened but afraid to describes this feeling about something you are on the point of doing as in: She was afraid to say what she really meant. Afraid of on the other hand talks in much more general terms of this fear that applies to any time or situation as in: Some old people are afraid of walking alone at night in the dark.
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[Tofu]

Could you explain about the two with other examples?

[EvilDwarf]

[Tofu]

Very confusing.

[Mordant]

The difference between gerunds and infinitives is not that neat, Evil. Are you just referring to "afraid"? I agree "afraid to" is by far more common when we are on the point of an action, but I think the infinitive is just as common as the gerund for general situations.

Since my accident, I have been afraid of driving.
Since my accident, I have been afraid to drive.

The prepositional phrase indicates this is persistent and not just about a specific or immediate instance of driving. Do you consider it wrong or uncommon? It is no different from the use of "afraid of" in your first roof example, although I used the infinitive anyway.

[Alan]

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Hi,

I'll have another go at explaining what I believe is the difference although that view has been pooh poohed in the past. 'Afraid of' points at generality and 'afraid to' at specificity as in: Sometimes elderly people are afraid of going out alone at night and She was afraid to approach the dog in case it bit her.

Alan
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[Dahirfarah]

I am afraid of starting a medical university, but I am afraid to learning this course as same as I planned.

[Alan]

Hi,

Please note:

[Tofu]

http://www.saberingles.com.ar/which/06.html

"AFRAID TO DO" or "AFRAID OF DOING"

In general, we say afraid to do (using the to-infinitive) to talk about the real action we are afraid to do.
We say afraid of doing (using of+gerund) to talk about other possible actions that may happen which would make us feel afraid.

afraid to do
She is afraid to speak in front of all those people.
(She doesn't want to speak in front of all those people because she's afraid.)

afraid of doing
She is afraid of saying something wrong.
(She is afraid because she might say someting wrong.)

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[EvilDwarf]

[Waiyin Cheng]

Maybe I got what you mean.
Afraid of doing something = you fear / don't want to do this all the time.
Afraid to do = just at the moment, temporary, you fear / do not want to do this time (for special reason), but maybe next time you are not afraid to do it any more.